Storage battery.



S. LAKE.

STORAGE BATTERY.

Patented Nov.3,19os.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. LAKE.

STORAGE BATTERY.

APrLIUATIoN rum JULYe. 19o?.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

antun,

SIMON LAKE, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

Vs'ioiauier: BATTERY.

Specification of Lettera Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 190B.

Application led Iii/1y 6, 1907. Serial No. 382,489.

To all 'whom 'it 'may concern.:

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, temporarily residing in London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Storage Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in storage batteries and particularly to the construction and arrangements of the plates, the object being to provide a construction in which a maximum amount of active contacting area for a given weight'is provided for the electrolyte of the cell, without increasing the number of plates for the results obtained, thus preserving the space occupied by the plates without materially increasing the size of the'cells or interfering in the least with the free circulation of theelectrolyte, means being provided for holding the active material of the lates in position, and means being also employed for holding the plates in position relative to each other and also of preventing the accumulation or growth of the lead sulfate of the lates from coming into contact with the adiacent plates, which would cause a short circuiting, destroy the efliciency of the plates thus connected, and conse uently decrease the life of the battery.

In t. e accompanyingl drawings, illustrat-i ing-the invention, in t e several fi res of which like parts are similarly desi nated, Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view o a battery cell provided with my improved plates, parts of the latter being broken away to clearly show their construction. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at a right angle to Fig. 1 and showing the lates in elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlar ed en view of one of the plates, partly bro en out and `shown in section. ig. 4 is a erspective view of one of the plates detac ed and illustrating the parts comprising one of the plates roper or units. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation oiJ part of one of the grids illustrating a sli ht modification. Fig. 6 is an enlarged. detailorizontal section of art of one of the plates.

n constructing a cell in accordance with my invention I em loy anysuitabletank A, best adapted for t e purpose to which the vbattery is to be used and for the purpose of illustration, of substantially the construction shown in Patent No. 844,"815-grantedi to me Feb. 19, 1907: In the cell are arranged the positive and negative plates B and C respectively, forming the subject matter of this application. Both sets of plates are provided with supporting lugs, or ears D, w ich rest upon g ass supporting plates E mounted upon lead strips E', to prevent injury to the cell or tank. All of the plates of like polarity are electrically connected by means of, the usual bus-bars, F having extensions which are connected with conducting cables, F extending from one battery to the other, when arranged in series, or to the dynamo employed for recharging, or to the motor to which the current from the battery or batteries is tobe supplied. The ositive and negative plates beine similar wit the possible exception of thic ness, which may be varied withoutdepartin from the scope of the invention, I deem it su cient to show only one plate or unit in detail, and to refer to the one the description.

plate or unit throughout By reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the

numeral 1 Fig. 3, designates one of the plates or units as a whole, which is constructed of two rectangular shaped sections or grids 2 and 3, each of which consists of a rim 4, and a central web 5, and from each side of the web extends in horizontal arrangement a series of ribs or fins 6, forming a series of grooves or recesses, in which is held the active material ofthe plates. The ribs or fins 6, are connected centrally of the grid b a vertically extending transverse strengt iening rib 7, p rojecting from both sides of the web, and the webs of both sections are formed, at intervals, with enlar ements 8 Fig. 3, extending from the vertical portion of the rim sections to the central rib to add rigidity to the sections. At intervals the Webs 5, are cut out, to provide ppenin s or slots 9 which extend from the vertice ortions of the rims to the central rib 7. hese openings ermit of a certain amount of ex ansion of t e sections without buckling, an also the free circulation of the electrolyte of the battery cell, and also the uisge of tie bands as will be explained hereina ter.

Preferably no active `materials are placed in the slots 9, especially when they extend entirely across the rids or sections as shown in Figs. 1-4, but s ould the slots be made shorter and to extend only a short distance from the vertical portions of the rims andthe lwit out danger of its overlappin central rib, as shown in Fig. 5, I may then insert the active material 1n the recesses between the slots.

The upper horizontal ortion ofthe rim 4 of each section is provi ed with a slight 1nwardly extending llange 10, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 f formed the outer faces are covered by veneers of suitable wood or other porous material 12, which hold the active materials in place, and

when the coverings are of wood it is of a quality to ermit of a free penetration of the liquid. pon each veneer of wood or other cover is a sheet of insulating material 13, preferably hard rubber, which is perforated throughout to permit of the liquid contacting with and penetrating the covers 12. Each insulating sheet has a series of vertically extending ribs 14, which may be continuous as shown, or interrupted or broken throughout their length as des1red. These ribs 14 are designed to abut against similar ribs of adjacent sheets when the plates are arranged in a cell, to hold the plates suliciently apart to permit of a free circulation of the electrolyte, and also to retain the plates in position and to prevent the veneers of wood from buckling when saturated with the electrolyte.

The sheets of rubber 13 arev of somewhat greater length than the porous covers 12 and are extended below the lower edges of the latter and conse uently the plates, the purpose being to comp etely 'protect the lower edges of the plates and permit of a certain alnount of rowth qr formation of the lead sulfate and coming in contact with the adjacent p ates, which would cause short circuting.

The porous covers and insulating sheets are held in place by a series of tie bands, or rods 15, preferably elastic, which are extended through the slots, 9, the porous covers, and the insulating sheets, and are connected to the latter by melting the ends of the bands and causing them to adhere to the sheets, or if desired, the endsfot the bands may be united to suitable washers or`buttons, and the latter allowed to contact with the sheets. This arrangement of holding the veneers of wood or other material and the Y insulatinfxr sheets in position also holds the lower ends of the sections forming the plates or units in position, and at the same time permits of a certain amount of expansion or contraction ofthe several elements Without causing disintegration. From the foregoi it will be seen that my construction of attery plates` 'a muh greater active contacting surface is obtained for a given weight than heretofore, which at the same time allows of a free circulation of the electrolyte and its contact with the active material.

I desire it to be fully understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown in the drawings as slight modifica# tions may be made without departing from the broad principle of the invention, nor do I wish to limit myself to the number of plates employed as the number may vary according to the size of the battery cell and also to the use to which the cell is put.

That I claim rs1- 1. A storage battery, each of Whose units is composed of a pair of spaced-apart rectangular grids united at their tops and recessed below the point of union, said grids provided on both sides with a multiplicity of recesses containing active material, a porous cover arranged over each outer face of the grids next to the active material, and a nonconducting sheet arranged next to each cover, and means to yieldingly unite the grids, covers and sheets.

A storage battery, comprising a containing-vessel, a series of positive and negative plates arranged therein, each o1" said plates comprising two rectangular grid sec tions rigidly connected at then' tops to form a unit and recessed below for circulation of the electrolyte and having a multiplicity of recesses on both sides, active material arranged in said recesses, a porous cover arranged'over the outer face of each grid section, a non-conducting sheet arranged in contact with each' porous cover, means to yieldingly unite the grids,vcovers and sheets y of each unit, and conducting bars connected to the posltive and negative elements.

3. A plate for storage batteries, comprising a plurality of frectangular sections having rims with flanges u on their adjacent upper horizontal edfres, wiiich are united to form a single plate, ugs formed upon the adjacent faces of the sections, central slotted Webs connecting the rims, horizontal fins formed upon the webs providing a series of grooves for holding actwe material, a porous cover held over the outer face of each section, and a perforated non-conducting sheet held over each porous cover, vsaid crous covers and non-conducting sheets plate. n

4. A storage battery plate, com plurality of rectan ular sections w 'eh are connected at one elge and their body'portions spaced apart to facilitate circulation of the electrolyte of the battery cell, fins formed upon the op osite sides of the sections, active rising a Y material he d in the grooves formed by the ns, a porous cover held over the `outer face of each plate, a perforated non-conducting sheet held over each porous cover, andmeans for securing together the said sections, covers and sheets.

5. A storage battery, comprising asuitable containing-vessel, a series of positive and negative plates held therein, each of said plates com rising two rectangular grid sections unite at one edge and having recesses containing active material exposed on both sides of each section, spacing lugs arranged upon the adjacent faces of each section, porous covers held upon the outer faces of the l plates, a perforated non-conducting sheet eld upon each porous cover and projecting below the lower edges of the said porous covers, means for yieldingly holding the grid sections, porous sheets, and non-conducting sheets together, and bus-bars connecting all of the plates of like polarity.

6. A storage battery, comprising a suitable containingsvessel, a series of positive and negative plates held therein, each plate comprising two grid sections united at one edge and held apart throughout the remainder of their body ortions, active material carried by the sections, a veneer of wood held over the outer face of each section, a perforated non-conducting sheet held adjacent to each veneer and having external ribs adapted to engage the ribs of the sheets of the adjacent plates, flexible retain' means for holdin the elements of each plate in position, an bus-bars connecting t e plates of like polarity.

7. A storage battery, comprising a suitable containing-vessel, a series of positive and negative plates alternately arranged therein, each o said plates comprising two grid sections having a series of ooves upon each side .and openings exten 'ng entirely through the sections, active material held in 1 the grooves, unitin ianges upon one edge of the sections, and ugs arranged upon each section for the purpose specified, a veneer of Wood held over the outer face of each section, a perforated non-conducting sheet arranged over each veneer and projecting beyond the lower edge thereof, ribs formed upon the sheets which are adapted to eng the ribs of the adjacent sheets, elastic tie ands connected to the non-conducting sheets and extending through the veneers and openings in the id sections, and bus-bars connecting all ogrthe. plates of like polarity.

8. A storage battery plate, constructed of sections connected together at one edge and ing two rectangular sections having having su porting lugs, each section having a series ooves adapted to hold active material an also having openin a porous cover arranged upon the outer ce of each section, a perforated sheet held upon each of the porous covers and of a greater length than the porous covers, ribs formed uponthe perforated sheets, and means for yieldingly olding the several elements in position.

9. A storage battery late, constructed of two grid sections whicli are connected together to provide a central recess, fins ormed upon each side of the grid sections to provide a series of grooves for the reception of active material, sup orting lugs and busbar connections formed) upon the sections, a veneer of wood arranged over each section, non-conducting sheets held over each veneer, said sheets bein of a greater length than the veneers of woo and flexible tie bands extending through slots in the sections and connecting the perforated sheets, thereby holding the 'id sections, the veneers and perforated s eets in osition.

10. A storage attery plate, constructed of two id sections connected at one edge and having supporting lugs and bus-bar connections, each grid comprising a rim, a central web having slotted o enings, a strengthening rib and a series of orizontal fins projecting from the webs and providing a series of grooves for holding an active material, a veneer of wood arranged over the outer face of each 'd section, a perforated non-conducting s eet held upon each veneer and extending below the lower edges thereof, and flexible tie bands connected to the sheets and extending through the veneers and the openings in the webs of the grids.

11. A plate for storage batteries, comprisrims with ianges upon their upper horizontal edges which are united to form a single plate, lugs formed upon the adjacent faces of the sections, central slotted webs connecting the rims, horizontal flanges formed upon the webs and providing a series of grooves, and supporting lu and bus-bar connections formed upon t e sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25 day of June A. D. 1907.

SIMON LAKE.

Witnesses:

H. D. JAMESON, F. L. RAND. 

